Tom Scott Archives - Oak Ridge Today

ORFD photographer dies at 88

Posted at 6:38 pm January 29, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

*Tom Scott (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)*

Tom Scottâ€”photographer for the Oak Ridge Fire Department who kept historic fire trucks, equipment, and literature at his homeâ€”died Saturday. He was 88.

Scott was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, but he spent the last three decades in Oak Ridge serving as the fire departmentâ€™s official photographer, the City of Oak Ridge said Thursday. Scott also took photos at other fires and crashes in the area, including in Blair, Marlow, and Oliver Springs.

Scott had moved to Oak Ridge in the 1970s to work on the development of the gas centrifuge process for enriching uranium.

In 1974, he joined the Oliver Springs Volunteer Fire Department, and in 1990, he joined the Oak Ridge Fire Department as their official photographer, the city said. That happened after ORFD responded to a large structure fire where Scott was taking pictures. When the fire chief at the time, William â€œBoâ€ Harris, saw the pictures, he decided the ORFD needed to have an on-site photographer at all incidents to document the fires for training, media, and historical preservation, the city said. Harris asked Scott to lead the effort.

[Read more…]

ORFD helped fight fire in Oliver Springs

Posted at 6:07 pm March 12, 2019
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The Oak Ridge Fire Department and other departments helped Oliver Springs fight this fire on West Tri County Boulevard early Wednesday, March 5, 2019. (Photo by Tom Scott)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to help fight a fire in Oliver Springs last week.

The fire was reported at about 1 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, in a buildingÂ in the 900 block of West Tri County Boulevard, said fire photographer Tom Scott.

The initial response was by the Oliver Springs Fire Department, followed by the Marlow, Blair, and Oak Ridge fire departments on a mutual aid request, Scott said. [Read more…]

No injuries reported when fire destroys vacant home

Posted at 1:27 pm October 20, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

A fire destroyed a vacant home on South Walker Lane on Thursday night, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

No injuries were reported when a fire destroyed a vacant home on Thursday night, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 112 South Walker Lane at about 11:40 p.m. Thursday.

More than a dozen personnel from the Oak Ridge Fire Department responded, and they were able to get the fire under control within about 10 minutes, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. No injuries were reported. [Read more…]

Shutting door during bedroom fire likely saved rest of house, firefighter says

Posted at 5:27 pm March 23, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A fire was reported at 612 Johnson Road on the southwest side of Oliver Springs on Thursday morning, March 23, 2017. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A woman who shut a bedroom door after finding an electrical outlet on fire in a bedroom Thursday morning likely prevented further damage to her house, a firefighter said.

“This woman saved her own house,”Â said Toby Leinart, Oliver Springs Fire Department lieutenant. Leinart was the incident commander at the fire at the home at 612 Johnson Road on the southwest side of Oliver Springs at about 6:16 a.m. Thursday.

The female resident apparently closed the bedroom door out of instinct, putting the door between herself and danger, Leinart said. Firefighters sayÂ a closed door isÂ one of the bestÂ pieces of firefighting andÂ lifesaving equipmentÂ because itÂ can reduce fire growth and spread, limit damage to a home, and possibly save lives.

“I believe that’s what saved her house today and reduced her damage down to one bedroom,” Leinart said.Â “I would just about guarantee that’s what saved the rest of her house.”

It’s advice that’s been shared by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office in a “Close the Door” campaign. Even if you escape from your house during a fire, shut the door when you leave if you can, firefighters say. That will help limit oxygen to the fire. (Firefighters also recommend sleeping with bedroom doors closed if possible, and keeping fire doors closed.) [Read more…]

Roane crash during police pursuit kills Powell woman; driver, 15, injured

Posted at 2:18 pm August 25, 2016
By John Huotari 1 Comment

A 20-year-old Powell woman died in a single-vehicle crash during a police pursuit on Poplar Creek Road in Roane County on Wednesday afternoon, and a 15-year-old male driver was injured, authorities said. (Photo by Tom Scott)

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the juvenile, a Harriman boy who was not identified because of his age, was fleeing from police in a 1998 Dodge pickup at about 3:06 p.m. when he lost control of the truck. It ran off the road and hit a rock wall or cavern opening, the THP said.

Holland Durbrow, 20, was killed in the impact, the THP said. She was not using a seat belt, according to a preliminary report.

WYSH Radio in Clinton reported thatÂ Harriman police officers tried to pull over a pickup that had been reported stolen Wednesday afternoon, but the young driver refused to stop. At one point during the pursuit, officers lost sight of the truck on Poplar Creek Road, WSYH said. Moments later, officers came upon the crash scene. [Read more…]

Fires destroy two homes Friday, one in Oliver Springs, other on Dutch Valley Road

Posted at 1:07 pm June 26, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A fire destroyed a home on Hen Valley Road in Oliver Springs late Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo by Tom Scott)

OLIVER SPRINGSâ€”Fires destroyed two homes on Friday, one in Oliver Springs and the other on Dutch Valley Road.

The first fire was reported at about 12:55 a.m. Friday at 1351 Dutch Valley Road in Anderson County.

The large, one-story, brick veneer home was completely on fire when the first units arrived from the nearby Marlow Fire Department Station 2 (located at the old Donovan School), fire photographer Tom Scott said. The Marlow Fire department responded with two engines and two tankers.

In response to mutual aid requests, the Oliver Springs Fire Department sent an engine and a rescue truck, and the Blair Fire Department sent an engine.

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services had a medic unit standing by at the scene. The fire units were on the scene until about 5 a.m. Friday, Scott said. The house was totally destroyed. [Read more…]

Man injured, facing charges after pursuit ends with crash into power pole

Posted at 8:35 pm March 13, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Truck-Crash-Oliver-Springs-March-13-2016

A 32-year-old man was injured and is facing a half-dozen charges after he allegedly went off State Route 62 in a pickup truck while fleeing from Morgan County officials early Sunday, struck a utility pole and broke it in half, and then traveled down an embankment and rolled over in a ditch, authorities said. (Photo by Tom Scott)

Note: This story was updated at 8:50 p.m.

OLIVER SPRINGSâ€”A 32-year-old man was injured and is facing a half-dozen charges after he allegedly went off State Route 62 in a pickup truck while fleeing from Morgan County officials early Sunday, struck a utility pole and broke it in half, and then traveled down an embankment, where the vehicle he was driving rolled over onto its top in a ditch, authorities said.

Travis Lyles, 32, of Oliver Springs, was driving east on SR 62 in a 2004 Ford F-250 when his pickup truck went off the westbound side of the road at about 12:35 a.m. Sunday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. The crash occurred while Lyles was evading arrest and being pursued by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, which was trying to stop him for speeding and swerving on the roadway, the THP said.

The crash occurred in the Morgan County portion ofÂ Oliver Springs on Winter Gap Road near Lookout Avenue. [Read more…]

OS man faces charges after head-on collision injures three on Hwy 61

Posted at 8:56 pm January 17, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

An Oliver Springs man is facing charges, including driving under the influence, after a head-on collision injured three people in two vehicles on Highway 61 west of Oliver Springs late Friday afternoon. (Photo by Tom Scott)

OLIVER SPRINGSâ€”An Oliver SpringsÂ man is facing charges, including driving under the influence, after a head-on collision injured three people in two vehicles on Highway 61 west of Oliver Springs late Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Ryan P. Price, 33, of Oliver Springs, will be charged with DUI, vehicular assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while under the influence, a due care violation, failure to maintain lane, violation of the financial responsibility law, and a failure to carry registration, according to theÂ Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The THP said a 2003 Dodge Durango driven by Price was traveling east in the westbound lane on State Route 61 near Scandlyn Hollow Road in Roane County at about 4:55 p.m. Friday.

A 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven west by Rodger Mattox, 66, of Oliver Springs, was also in the westbound lane, which was its travel lane, the THP said. [Read more…]

Two adults escape, no injuries in Saturday morning fire in Marlow

Posted at 7:22 pm January 2, 2016
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Two people escaped and no one was injured in a fire in a single-wide mobile home on Farmers Hollow Road in Marlow on Saturday morning, Jan. 2, 2016, authorities said. (Photo by Tom Scott)

Two adults escaped and no one was injured in a Saturday morning fire in a large single-wide mobile home in Marlow, authorities said.

Two adults were in the home when the fire was reported at about 9:40 a.m. Saturday at 238Â Farmers Hollow Road, but they escaped before firefighters arrived, said Stephanie Fox, assistant chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department.

A man who lives there said a wall behind a wood-burning stove was on fire when he woke up, and he helped his mother out of the home, Fox said.

But neither was injured, and no one was taken to the hospital, Fox said. [Read more…]

Relics of a Firefighter: Retired volunteer fireman, avid collector to lead educational event Saturday

Posted at 3:29 pm October 23, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tom Scott, a retired volunteer fireman and avid collector, will be the guest speaker at an educational event on Saturday titled “Relics of a Firefighter.” It starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 24, atÂ Through the Looking Glass Antiques in Jackson Square.

Scott was a volunteer firefighter in Newport, Rhode Island; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Aiken, South Carolina.

He has been a member of the Oliver Springs Fire Department since 1974.

In 1992, he became the volunteer photographer for the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

Fire destroys unoccupied home on Marlow Circle

Posted at 2:33 am October 5, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A fire destroyed an unoccupied home on Marlow Circle on Friday night, Oct. 2, 2015. The Marlow and Oliver Springs fire departments both responded to fight the fire. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A fire destroyed an unoccupied home on Marlow Circle on Friday night.

The fire was reported at 516 Marlow Circle at about 10 p.m. Friday.

The house was engulfed in flames when the first Marlow Fire Department units arrived, fire photographer Tom Scott said. Two Marlow Fire Department engines and a tanker responded and so did two Oliver Springs Fire Department engines and a rescue unit, which responded on a mutual aid call.

The house was close to the roadway, and at the height of the fire, the contents of a mailbox across Marlow Circle caught on fire, Scott said. [Read more…]

Woman reports falling asleep with cigarette in hand before Tuesday fire

Posted at 1:55 pm September 2, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A woman who escaped a Tuesday morning fire with her son and dog told authorities she fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand. (Photo by Tom Scott)

Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today/Tom Scott

A woman who escaped a Tuesday morning fire with her son and dog told authorities she fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand.

The fire was reported at about 6:45 a.m. TuesdayÂ on Smith Road in Anderson County, east of Oliver Springs in Marlow.

The 77-year-old woman who lives at the homeÂ woke up to her hand being burned, said the incident commander, Captain Jordan Alcorn of the Oliver Springs Fire Department.

She activated a Life Alert emergency alarm and fled the home with her son and small dog, said Alcorn,Â who is also an Oak Ridge firefighter. [Read more…]